Control system and control device therefor or the like

ABSTRACT

A control device for interconnecting a source of fuel to a burner, the control device having a valve seat and a movable valve member for controlling the valve seat. A movable selector is carried by the control device and a clutch is adapted to interconnect the selector to the valve member, the clutch having means for moving the valve member from an &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position to a full &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position thereof, as the selector is moved in one direction from its &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position to a first position thereof. The clutch keeps the valve member in the full &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position thereof as the selector is moved in the one direction from the first position thereof to a second position thereof. The clutch thereafter moves the valve member from its full &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position to a reduced &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position thereof as the selector is moved in the one direction from the second position thereof to a third position thereof, the clutch being adapted to move the valve member from the reduced &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position thereof back to the full &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position thereof as the selector is moved in a direction opposite to the one direction from the third position thereof to the second position thereof.

limited States atent Genbauffe 1 CONTROL SYSTEM AND CONTROL DEVICETHEREFOR OR THE LIKE [751' Inventor: Francis S. Genbauffe, Irwin, Pa.[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1973 211 App]. No.: 400,788

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 258,798,June 1, 1971, Pat.

52 U.S. Cl. 251/89 [51] Int. Cl. F23n 1/00 [58] Field of Search 251/89;236/15 A, 99; 192/93 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,011,721 12/1973 Wiltz 236/15 A Primary Examiner-William E. WaynerAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Candor, Candor & Tassone [111 3,834,661 [451Sept. 10,1974

[5 7] ABSTRACT A control device for interconnectinga source of fuel to aburner, the control device having a valve seat and a movable valvemember for controlling the valve seat. A movable selector is carried bythe control device and a clutch is adapted to interconnect the selectorto the valve member, the clutch having means for moving the valve memberfrom an off position to a full on position thereof, as the selector ismoved in one direction from its off position to a first positionthereof. The clutch keeps the valve member in the full on positionthereof as the selector is moved in the one direction from the firstposition thereof to a second position thereof. The clutch thereaftermoves the valve member from its full on position to a reduced onposition thereof as the selector is moved in the one direction from thesecond position thereof to a third position thereof, the clutch beingadapted to move the valve member from the reduced on position thereofback to the full on position thereof as the selector is moved in adirection opposite to the one direction from the third position thereofto the second position thereof.

10 Claims, 16 Drawing; Figures 6. T B e e I6 70 T5 1 f s5 A .17? 2790 39"/iOO 38' /37 35 9 4 5 96 a 93 [1- Ar 98' Ill 5 i l .06

a r 5 l4, \3

/fi ue I PATENTED 1 01974 3 8 34, 661

SHEET 2 UF 6 QONTRUL SYSTEM AND CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR R Tim LIKE Thisis a continuation of application Ser. No. 258,798, filed June 1, 1971,now US. Pat. No. 3,780,940, issued Dec. 25, 1973.

This invention relates to an improved fuel control system as well as toan improved control device for such a fuel control system or the like.

It is well known that control devices have been provided for controllingthe flow of fuel to a main burner means, such as the burner means of acooking apparatus or the like, the control device having a selectormovable through various ranges of movement thereof for controlling theoutput temperature effect of the burner means in a certain manner.

For example, when the selector of the control device is first moved froman off position thereof toward an on position thereof, clutch means ofthe control device interconnect the selector to a main valve member ofthe control device and moves the same from an off position thereof to afull on position thereof so that full fuel flow can be provided to themain burner means when the output temperature effect of the main burnermeans is below the output temperature setting of the selector means ofthe selector. The selector is then adapted to be moved in the samedirection and be de clutched from the main valve member while operatinga thermostatically controlled means of the control device for settingthe desired temperature output effect of the burner means, such asthrough a normal cooking temperature range until the selector meansreaches a broil position. At this time the broiling operation of themain burner means is provided with a full fuel flow so that a high flameis being produced at the main burner means. However, it is sometimesdesired to reduce the flame size of the main burner means during abroiling operation so that the prior known clutch means would re-engagewith the main valve member to cause the same to reduce the fuel flow tothe main burner means as the selector is further moved from the broilposition thereof in the same direction toward a low flame broil positionof the selector.

However, such prior known clutch means required the user of the controldevice to return the selector completely to the full off positionthereof in order to move the main valve member of the control deviceback to its off position before the operator could move the selectorinto the baking range position thereof for full fuel flow for a bakingoperation.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, a clutch means isprovided for such a control device and permits the selector when set ina low flame broil position thereof to move the main valve member back tothe full on thereof as the selector is initially moved from the lowbroil setting thereof back to the high flame broil setting thereof sothat the operator need not move the selector all the way back to thefull of position should a baking operation be desired following abroiling operation.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides an improvedcontrol device for interconnecting a source of fuel to a burner means,the control device having a valve seat means and a movable valve membermeans for controlling the valve seat means. A movable selector means iscarried by the control device. Clutch means is carried by the controldevice for interconnecting the selector means to the valve member means,the

clutch means having means for moving the valve member means from an offposition thereof to a full on position thereof as the selector means ismoved in one direction from its off position to a first positionthereof. The means of the clutch means keeps the valve member means inthe full "'on position thereof as the selector means is moved :in theone direction from the first position thereof to a second positionthereof. The means of the clutch means moves the valve member means fromthe full on position thereof to a reduced on positionthereof as theselector means is moved in the one direction from the second positionthereof to a third position thereof. The means of the clutch means movesthe valve member means from the reduced on position thereof to the fullon position thereof as the selector means is moved-in a directionopposite to the one direction from the third position thereof back tothe second position thereof. The means of the clutch means keeps thevalve member means in the full on position thereof as the selector meansis moved in the opposite direction from the second position thereof backto the first position thereof. Thereafter, the means of the clutch meansmoves the valve member means from the full on position thereof back tothe off position thereof as the selector means is moved in the oppositedirection from the one direction thereof back to the off positionthereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontrol device having one or more of the novel features set forth aboveor hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved controlsystem utilizing such a control device or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent fromthe reading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

Fig. l is a schematic view illustrating the improved fuel control systemof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the control device of this invention with thecontrol knob thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the control device mounted to a cookingapparatus and having the control knob thereon.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view similar to FIG. 2 with certain partsof the control device removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG.2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG.5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the control device illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates the control deviceset in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the control deviceset in the position of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the control deviceset in the position of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the control devicewhen set in the position of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates the control devicewhen set in a low flame broiling position thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the control deviceset in the position of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the control device set in theposition of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts of thecontrol device for effecting the movement of the selector means and themain valve member of the control device.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adapted for controlling a singleburner means for a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that thevarious features of this invention can be utilized singularly or in anycombination thereof to provide control means for other devices asdesired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the improved control system of this inventionis generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes acontrol device 11 of this invention for controlling the operation of amain burner means 12 disposed in a domestic oven or the like, thecontrol device 11 including a housing 13.

The housing means 13 has an inlet 14 and an outlet 15 adapted to beinterconnected together by a main disc valve member 16 in a mannerhereinafter described, the inlet 14 being adapted to be interconnectedto a fuel supply conduit 17 by a passage means 18 and the outlet 15being adapted to be interconnected to a chamber 19 formed in the housingmeans 13 by a passage means 20 that terminates at a valve seat 21. Thechamber 19 is adapted to be interconnected to a conduit 22 leading tothe inlet side of a safety valve 24. The outlet side of the safety valve24 is intercon- I nected to the main burner 12 by a conduit 25.

A pilot burner 26 is disposed in the oven and is adapted to normallyhave a continuously burning small standby flame in a manner hereinafterdescribed. However, when additional fuel is supplied to the pilot burner26 in a manner hereinafter described, the same provides a relativelylarge heater flame which is sensed by a bulb 27 to open the safety valve24 and interconnect the conduits 22 and 25 together whereby as long as alarge heater flame appears at the pilot burner 26, the chamber 19 of thecontrol device 11 is interconnected to the main burner 12. However, whenthe heater flames cease to exist at the pilot burner 26, the safetyvalve 24 closes and prevents fluid communication between the chamber 19of the control device 11 and the main burner means 12 for a purposehereinafter described.

When the disc valve 16 is moved to an on position thereof in a mannerhereinafter described, the same not only interconnects the inlet 14 withthe outlet 15, but also interconnects the inlet 14 with a passage means28 leading to a chamber 29 defined by a valve seat member 30 carried bythe housing 13. The chamber 29 is separated from a chamber 31 by a valveseat 32 being opened and closed by a valve member 33 urged to the closedposition by a compression spring 34.

An axially movable fulcrum pin 35 is carried by the housing 13 in such amanner that the axial position of the fulcrum pin 35 relative to thehousing 13 is controlled by a control knob 36 in a manner hereinafterdescribed. The fulcrum pin 35 has a rounded end 37 provided with acylindrical projection 38 passing through a suitable aperture in a lever39 whereby the lever 39 is fulcrumed on the end 37 of the fulcrum pin35.

One end 40 of the lever 39 bears against a movable wall 41 of anexpandable and contractable power element 42 being interconnected to anoven temperature sensing bulb 44 by a conduit 45. The movable wall 41 ofthe expandable and contractable element 42 carries a valve member 46 forclosing the valve seat 21 if a runaway temperature condition shouldexist in the oven.

The other end 47 of the lever 39 is adaptedto engage a plunger 48carried by the valve seat member 30 and engaging the valve member 33,the end 47 of the lever 39 being urged in a clockwise direction in FIG.1 by a compression spring 49. Thus, the opening and closing of the valvemember 33 is controlled by the lever 39 in relation to the temperaturesensed by the bulb 44 and the axial position of the fulcrum pin 35 in amanner hereinafter described.

The chamber 31 of the housing 13 is interconnected to a passage means 50leading to a bore 51 in the housing 13. An adjusting key 52 is rotatablydisposed in the bore 51 and has a longitudinal bore 53 interconnected tothe exterior of the key 52 by branch passages 54 and 55. Thelongitudinal bore 53 of the adjusting key 52 is disposed incommunication with a passage 56 leading to a conduit 57 interconnectedto the pilot burner 26.

Another passage 58 is formed in the housing 13 and is interconnectedwith the passage 18 at a point upstream from the disc valve 16 as wellas to a filter chamber 59. The filter chamber 59 is interconnected to apassage 60 leading to the bore 51 in a manner illustrated in FIG. 1, thepassage 60 having an orifice 61 therein.

Thus, it can be seen that when the adjusting key 52 is disposed in theposition illustrated in FIG. 1, fuel from the supply conduit 17 isadapted to pass through the passages 58 and 60 to the passage of theadjusting key 52 and, thus, to the pilot burner 26 to provide thepreviously mentioned small standby flame which does not affect theopening or closing of the safety valve 24. Thus, the small standby flameis a continuously burning flame.

However, when the disc valve 16 is moved to an open position and thevalve member 33 is moved to an open position in a manner hereinafterdescribed, the additional fuel being supplied to the passage 54 of theadjusting key 52 causes the pilot burner 26 to provide the large heaterflame which is sensed by the bulb 27 and causes the safety valve 24 toopen and interconnect the conduits 22 and 25 together so that fuel canissue from the main burner 12 and be ignited by the pilot burner 26.However, when the valve member 33 closes, the additional supply of fuelto the pilot burner 26 is terminated whereby the large heater flameceases to exist, even though the small standby flame continues, wherebythe safety valve 24 will close and prevent fuel from issuing from themain burner 12.

Thus, as the valve member 33 cycles between its opened and closedpositions in a manner hereinafter described, the main burner 12 iscycled on and off to maintain the temperature of the oven at atemperature selected by the control valve or selector means 36 in amanner hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing means 13 defines a flatsurface 62 interrupted by the spaced inlet 14 and outlet 15 which areadapted to be interconnected together by a groove 63 in the disc valve16 as illustrated in FIG. 11 when the disc valve 16 is turned to an onposition thereof. In particular, the groove 63 in the disc valve 16interrupts a valve surface 64 thereof with the valve surface 64 beingdisposed in sealing and sliding contact with the valve surface 62 of thehousing 14, the disc valve 16 having an opening 65 passing therethroughand loosely receive the end 66 of the fulcrum pin 35.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 16, the disc valve 16 has a pair ofspaced arcuate abutments or embossments 70 formed on the side 71 thereofand a smaller rectangular embossment 72 disposed intermediate theembossment 70 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A cup-shaped casing member 73 forms part of the housing means 13 and istelescopically disposed over the disc valve 16, the member 73 having anaperture 74 passing therethrough in the closed end 75 thereof. Theclosed end 75 has a cam slot 76 formed therein and defining opposed ends77 and 78 as thus illustrated in FIG. 16.

A C-shaped shaft 81 has one end 82 thereof interconnected to a platemember 83 having an outwardly directed tang 84. A plate member 90 has abent over tang 91 provided with a slot 92 and a pair of ears 93 havingapertures 94 passing therethrough. The members 83 and 90 are adapted tobe assembled together with the tang 84 of the member 83 being receivedin the slot 92 of the member 90 and with the ears 93 of the member 90passing through slots 95 of the plate member 83 and being pinned theretoby a pin means 96 passing through the apertures 94. Another plate member85 is sandwiched between the interconnected plates 83 and 90 andreceived the tang 91 of the plate 90 in a cutout 86 thereof wherebyrotation of the shaft 81 causes like rotation of the plate members 83,85 and 90.

The plate member 90 carries a tubular extension 97 both internally andexternally threaded, the tubular extension 97 being adapted to bethreadedly received in a threaded bore 98 of a member 99, adapted to befixed in the aperture 74 of the cup-shaped housing 73.

An adjusting screw 100 is threaded in the tubular part 97 of the plate90 and has a pin 101 adapted to abut the end 66 of the fulcrum pin 35.

Thus, rotation of the control knob 36 fastened on the other end 102 ofthe C-shaped shaft 81 cause the mem ber 97 to be inserted into or out ofthe fixed threaded member 99 to adjust the axial position of the fulcrumpin 95 relative to the housing 13.

A bowed spring-like washer 103 is provided and has tangs 104 adapted toregister wih apertures 105 of a cam plate 106 disposed intermediate theclosed end 75 of the cup-shaped housing member 73 and the bowed washer103 which, in turn, is disposed intermediate the cam plate 106 and theplate 90.

The cam plate 106 has upwardly directed tangs 107 and 140 passingrespectively through a slot 107' and the recess 86 of the plate 85 sothat the cam plate 106 is rotated in unison with the C-shaped shaft 81for a purpose hereinafter described.

A spring retainer 108 is provided and has outwardly directed tangs 109adapted to rest on the embossment of the disc valve 16. The retainer 108also has another tang 110. Another spring retainer 111 is provided andhas an outwardly directed tang 112 similar to tang of the springretainer 108, retainers 108 and 111 respectively having openings 113 and114 passing therethrough so that the same can be telescoped on the fixedthreaded member 99. A compression spring 115 is adapted to be disposedbetween the spring retainers 108 and 111 to compact a clutch member 116against the inside surface of the wall 75 of the cupshaped housing part73.

The clutch part 116 has a pair of depending flanges 117 defining a notch118 therebetween adapted to not only receive the tangs 112 and 110 ofthe spring retainers 111 and 108, but also to receive the rectangularembossment 72 of the disc valve 16. In addition, the clutch member 116has an outwardly directed tang 119 adapted to pass through the cam slot75 of the housing part 73, the clutch part or drive member 1 16 havingan aperture 120 passing therethrough to loosely receive the fixed member99.

The cam plate 106 has a pair of notches 121 and 122 formed therein withthe notches 121 and 122 of the cam plate 106 being in rotationallalignment with the end 123 of the tang 119 of the clutch member 116 soas to receive the same therein between opposed ends 124 and 125 and 126,127 thereof when aligned therewith.

The cam member 106 has a first arcuate outer portion 128 that is adaptedto rotate on the inside of an outwardly directed stationery cam abutment129 projecting out of the end 75 of the cup-shaped housing member 73adjacent the slot thereof, the stationery cam 129 having angled leadingand trailing ends 130 and 131 for a purpose herinafter described.

Another arcuate peripheral portion 132 of the cam member 106 is inrotational alignment with the stationery cam 129 of the housing member73 and is pro vided with angled ends 133 and 134 respectively adjacentthe slots 121 and 122 therein for a purpose hereinafter described.

The bowed washer 103 between the plate member 90 and the cam plate 106tends to force the plate member 106 toward the closed end 75 of thehousing member 73, and, thus toward the cam 129 thereof as well astoward the tang 119 of the drive member 116.

The plate member 85 is provided with outwardly directed arcuate tang 135adapted to operate against a plunger arm 136 of an electrical switch 137carried by the housing means 13 of the control device 11 when thecontrol knob 36 is moved to a broiling position thereof whereby theswitch 137 can control any desired structure when the control device 11is set for a broiling operation whether the broiling operation is with ahigh flame or low flame at the burner means 12 as will be apparenthereinafter.

The operation of control device 11 as utilized in the system 10 of thisinvention with the parts heretofore described will now be described.

Assuming that the control knob or selector means 36 is disposed in theoff position as illustrated in FIGS. 28, the groove 63 of the disc valve16 is in such a position that the same does not interconnect the inlet14 with the outlet 15, nor the inlet 14 with the passage means 28whereby no fuel can issue from the main burner means 12 and only a smallstandby flame exists at the pilot burner 26 since the adjusting key 42is normally disposed in the on position as illustrated in FIG. 1.Further, with the control knob 36 set in the of position, the tang 119of the clutch member or drive member 116 is disposed in the notch 121 ofthe cam plate 106 with the angled cam surface 133 thereof being out ofrotational engagement with the stationary cam 129 of the casing member73 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the operator desires to turn on the oven to a set temperaturethereof, such as a baking temperature of 350F, the operator grasps theknob 36 and rotates same in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3whereby rotation of the knob 36 causes like rotation of the plates 83,85, 90, 103 and 106 in a counterclockwise direction in'FIG. 4 so thatthe tang 119 is driven therewith in a counterclockwise direction. Thus,the drive member 116 rotates in unison with the knob 36 and through thenotch 118 thereof rotates the spring retainers 111 and 108 as well asthe disc valve 16 to bring the groove 63 of the disc valve 16 in such aposition that the same fully interconnects the inlet 14 with the outlet15 as well as the inlet 14 to the passage means 28 in the mannerillustrated in FIGS. 9, and l 1. When the groove 63 fully interconnectsthe inlet 14 with outlet 15, the control knob 36 has been rotated in acounterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 from the of position thereof to thelow keep warm temperature of about 170 However, at this time, the angledend 133 of the peripheral portion 132 of the cam member 106 begins toride up the leading cam surface 130 of the stationary cam 129 of thecasing 73 so that any further rotation in a counterclockwise directionof the cam plate 106 causes the cam plate 106 to be cammed upwardly bythe stationary cam 129 and cause the notch 121 to clear the end 123 ofthe tang 119 of the drive member 116 and thus, disengage the selectormeans 36 of the control device 11 from the disc valve 16.

Thus, further counterclockwise rotation of the control knob 36 in FIG. 3from the position illustrated in FIG. 9 toward the first part of thebroil position on the control knob 36, the cam member 129 on the casing73 bears against the under surface of the peripheral portion 132 of thecam plate 106 to hold the cam plate 106 above the end 123 of the tang119 of the drive member 116 so that the disc valve 16 remains with itsrecess 63 fully interconnecting the inlet 14 with the outlet 15 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 3 even though the control knob 36 is beingfurther rotated to a desired set temperature position, such as theselected baking temperature of 350 F.

During the rotation of the control knob or selector 36 from its keepwarm position of FIG. 10 to a set temperature position thereof, thethreaded member 97 of the plate 90 is backed out of the fixed member 99in such a manner that the fulcrum pin 35 is adjusted to a new axialposition thereof to the right in FIGS. 5 and 6 as selected by thetemperature setting of the control knob 36. This axial movement of thepin 35 from its of position to the selected temperature position permitsthe compression spring 49 to pivot the lever 39 on the fulcrum pin 35 insuch a manner that the pin 48 carried by the valve seat member 30 ismoved to the right in FIGS. 5 and 6 to open the valve member 33 awayfrom the valve seat 32 so the fuel in the passage 28 is now adapted topass to the chamber 31 and, thus, to the pilot burner 26 to create thelarge heater flame at the pilot burner 26. When the large heater flameexists at the pilot burner 26, the temperature sensing bulb 27 sensesthe presence of the same and opens the safety valve 24 whereby fuel fromthe chamber 19 is'adapted to flow to the main burner 12 and be ignitedby the pilot burner 26.

Thus, as long as the temperature of the oven remains below the selectedtemperature, the main burner means 12 is operating. However, when thetemperature of the oven reaches the selected temperature, as sensed bythe sensing bulb 44, the movable wall 41 of the expansible andcontractible element 42 has moved to the right in FIG. 6 to such anextent that the same pivots the lever 39 on the fulcrum pin 35 to aposition which permits the valve member 33 to close against the valveseat 32 and terminate the additional flow of fuel to the pilot burner26. Thus, the large heater flame at the pilot burner 26 ceases to existwhereby the safety valve 24 closes to terminate the flow of fuel to themain burner means 12.

Should the temperature of the oven again fall below the selectedtemperature, the movable wall 41 of the power element 42 has moved tothe left in FIG. 6 a distance sufficient to cause the lever 39 to againopen the valve member 33 so that the heater flame again exists at thepilot burner 26. The heater flame at the pilot burner 26 causes thesafety valve 24 to again open so that the fuel can again issue from themain burner means 12 and be ignited by the pilot burner 26.

Thus, it can be seen that the control device 11 of this inventionpermits the control knob 36 to be turned from an offposition thereof torotate the disc valve 16 to a fully on position thereof and also toadjust the axial position of the fulcrum pin 35 so that the controldevice 11 will maintain the oven at the selected temperature, thecontrol device 11 of this invention being so constructed and arrangedthat the drive member 116 declutches the disc valve 16 from the controlknob 36 during the rotational movement of the control knob 36 after thedisc valve has been disposed in its full on position until the controlknob 36 is moved into the first part of the broil range of the controlknob 36. At this time, the notch 122 of the clutch member 106 has beenrotated into registration with the end 123 of the tang 119 of the drivemember 116 and the angled portion 134 of the cam plate 106 now ridesdown the trailing edge 131 of the cam member 129 so that the clutchmember 106 is now in driving engagement with the tang 119 of the drivemember 116. However, at the initial part of the broil position of thecontrol knob 36 wherein the cam member 106 is again clutched to thedrive member 116, the disc valve 16 is only slightly rotated from theposition illustrated in FIG. 1 1 so that full fuel flow still isprovided from the inlet 14 to the outlet 15 by the groove 63 of the discvalve 16. Also, such rotation of the control knob 36 into the broilrange causes the fulcrum pin 35 to have been so adjusted that the samewill provide a continuous on operation of the burner 12 for a broilingoperation as is well known in the art with the flames at the burner 12being of the maximum height because the disc valve 16 is providing fullfuel flow to the outlet 15.

However, should the housewife or the like desire to reduce the size ofthe flames at the continuously operating burner 12 during the broilingoperation, the housewife can continue to rotate the selector or controlknob 36 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 to position lowerflame portions of the broil setting thereof adjacent the indicator onthe control panel of FIG. 3 and such movement of the control knob 36through the broil range thereof causes the disc valve 16 to rotate inunison therewith and have the groove 63 in the disc valve 16 reduce itsregistration with the outlet to thereby reduce the flow of fuel to theoutlet 15 and, thus, to the burner 12 through the chamber 19 of thehousing means 13. When the control knob 36 has been rotated to itsfullest position in a counterclockwise direction to position the lowestflame setting for the broiling operation in the manner illustrated inFIGS. 13-15, it can be seen that a reduced fuel flow is now provided bythe groove 63 from the inlet 14 to the outlet 15 to produce the lowestsized flames at the burner 12 during the broiling operation.

Upon the return of the selector or control knob 36 from the low flamebroil setting position thereof and toward the off position thereof, suchclockwise rotation of the knob 36 causes th disc valve 16 to rotate inunison therewith until full fuel flow is provided .by the groove 63 inthe disc valve 16 between the inlet 14 and outlet 15 as illustrated inFIG. 11 at which time the surface 134- of the cam plate 106 again camsagainst the surface 131 of the stationary cam 129 to raise the cam plate106 and disengage the tang 119 of the drive member 116 from the notch122 of the cam plate 106. Of course, this happens when the control knob36 is being rotated back to the highest temperature setting positionthereof for a normal cooking operation or baking operation of the burnermeans 12 so that the member 106 remains disengaged from the drive member116 until the control knob 36 is again rotated back to the keep warmposition of FIG. 10 to cause the notch 121 to again align with the tang119 and have the portion 133 of the cam plate 106 ride down the leadingedge 130 of the cam member 129 and thereby again interconnect the cammember 106 to the tang 119 of the drive member 116. Thus, furtherclockwise rotation of the control knob 36 in FIG. 3 toward its offposition will cause the disc valve 16 to rotate in unison therewith backto the of position illustrated in FIG. 7.

thus. it can be seen that when the housewife has uti lized the controldevice 11 to provide a broiling operation and has used a reduced flamesize at the burner means 12 during such broiling operation, thehousewife need not return the control knob 36 back to its of position toreadjust the flame size provided by the disc valve 16 as she candirectly move from the broil posi tion of the control knob 36 into thedesired baking temperature range position of the control knob 36 and theclutch means that interconnects the control knob 36 to the disc valve 16will return the disc valve 16 automatically to the full flow positionthereof and thereafter disengage from the disc valve 16 until it is timeto be reengaged therewith as the control knob 36 is moved from the keepwarm position thereof to the off position thereof.

In order to prevent the control knob or selector 36 from being rotatedtoo far beyond the of position thereof and the low flame broil settingposition thereof, the ends 77 and 78 of the slot 76 can be utililzed asstop means acting on the tang 119 ofthe drive member 116 as therespective stops for such selector means 36.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improvedcontrol device for a burner means, but also this invention provides animproved fuel control system utilizing such a control device or thelike.

While the form of this invention now preferred has been described asrequired by the patent statutes, other forms may be utilized and allcome within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A control device for interconnecting a source of fuel to a burnermeans comprising a housing means having a valve seat means and'a valvemember means for controlling said valve seat means, movable selectormeans carried by Said housing'means, and clutch means carried by saidhousing means for interconnecting said selector means to said valvemember means, said clutch means having means for moving said valvemember means from an off position thereof to a full on position thereofas said selector means is moved in one direction from its off positionto a first position thereof, said means of said clutch means keepingsaid valve member means in said full on position thereof as saidselector means is moved in said one direction from said first positionthereof to a second position thereof, said means of said clutch meansmoving said valve member means from said full on" position thereof to areduced on position thereof as said selector means is moved in said onedirection from said second position thereof to a third position thereof,said means of said clutch means moving said valve member means from saidreduced on position thereof to said full on" position thereof as saidselector means is moved in a direction opposite to said one directionfrom said third position thereof to said second position thereof.

2. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means of saidclutch means keeps said valve member means in said full on thereof assaid selector means is moved in said opposite direction from said secondposition thereof to said first position thereof.

3. A control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means of saidclutch means moves said valve member means from said full on positionthereof to said of position thereof as said selector means is moved insaid opposite direction from said first position thereof to said ofposition thereof.

4. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector meansis rotatably mounted to said housing means whereby said one directionand said opposite direction of movement thereof are rotationaldirections.

5. A control device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said selector meansis movable in said directions with out axial movement thereof.

6. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector meansis adapted to be set in any selected position between said first andsecond positions thereof to control the temperature output effect ofsaid burner means at a temperature selected between said first andsecond positions thereof.

7. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector meansis adapted to be set in any selected position between said second andthird positions thereof to control the flame height at said burnermeans.

8. A control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve membermeans has a tang means which when moved in said directions causes saidvalve member means to move relative to said valve seat means, said meansof said clutch means comprising a cam member that engages said tangmeans to cause the same to move in unison therewith when said selectormeans moves between said off position thereof and said first posi-- tionthereof and between said second position thereof and said third positionthereof.

9. A control device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said clutch meansincludes a cam that cams said cam means in said directions of movementthereof.

1. A control device for interconnecting a source of fuel to a burnermeans comprising a housing means having a valve seat means and a valvemember means for controlling said valve seat means, movable selectormeans carried by said housing means, and clutch means carried by saidhousing means for interconnecting said selector means to said valvemember means, said clutch means having means for moving said valvemember means from an ''''off'''' position thereof to a full ''''on''''position thereof as said selector means is moved in one direction fromits ''''off'''' position to a first position thereof, said means of saidclutch means keeping said valve member means in said full ''''on''''position thereof as said selector means is moved in said one directionfrom said first position thereof to a second position thereof, saidmeans of said clutch means moving said valve member means from said full''''on'''' position thereof to a reduced ''''on'''' position thereof assaid selector means is moved in said one direction from said secondposition thereof to a third position thereof, said means of said clutchmeans moving said valve member means from said reduced ''''on''''position thereof to said full ''''on'''' position thereof as saidselector means is moved in a direction opposite to said one directionfrom said third position thereof to said second position thereof.
 2. Acontrol device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means of said clutchmeans keeps said valve member means in said full ''''on'''' thereof assaid selector means is moved in said opposite direction from said secondposition thereof to said first position thereof.
 3. A control device asset forth in claim 2 wherein said means of said clutch means moves saidvalve member means from said full ''''on'''' position thereof to said''''off'''' position thereof as said selector means is moved in saidopposite direction from said first position thereof to said ''''off''''position thereof.
 4. A control device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid selector means is rotatably mounted to said housing means wherebysaid one direction and said opposite direction of movement thereof arerotational directions.
 5. A control device as set forth in claim 4wherein said selector means is movable in said directions without axialmovement thereof.
 6. A control device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid selector means is adapted to be set in any selected positionbetween said first and second positions thereof to control thetemperature output effect of said burner means at a temperature selectedbetween said first and second positions thereof.
 7. A control device asset forth in claim 1 wherein said selector means is adapted to be set inany selected position between said second and third positions thereof tocontrol the flame height at said burner means.
 8. A control device asset forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member means has a tang meanswhich when moved in said directions causes said valve member means tomove relative to said valve seat meanS, said means of said clutch meanscomprising a cam member that engages said tang means to cause the sameto move in unison therewith when said selector means moves between said''''off'''' position thereof and said first position thereof and betweensaid second position thereof and said third position thereof.
 9. Acontrol device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said clutch meansincludes a cam that cams said cam member out of operative engagementwith said tang means as said selector means moves between said first andsecond positions thereof.
 10. A control device as set forth in claim 9wherein said cam is stationary and said cam member moves relativethereto in unison with movement of said selector means in saiddirections of movement thereof.